Española Island

Morning found us anchored in Punta Suarez, between lines drawn by the wind in the water, red tops of bushes in a graceful morning.

Sea lions were surfing while we landed, and right away we encountered those “fucsia” and copper oxide colors of the marine iguanas, fighting for their territories, to be able to pass on their genes of “venustissima” (red) to the next generation, walking on and between doves, lava lizards, mockingbirds, all endemics to the Island.

Some blue-footed boobies arrived and performed their courtship dance, the “sky pointing” and the wing salute as an announcement of reproduction times. The Nazca boobies were doing it all: some courting, some incubating and others raising their chicks. They nest on cliffs where they can enjoy the view of the deep blue ocean around the island.

Then by Marine Turtle Rock in the afternoon, we entered the refreshing turquoise water: colors everywhere, angels, damsels, parrots… underneath this amazing red rock.

Finally, we met sea lions and noisy mockingbirds by the wonderful white beach of Gardner Bay. I walked along with deep thoughts about nature and my place - human being’s place -within this planet.